Poets that lasting marble seek
Must carve in Latin or in Greek;
We write in sand
Edmund Waller
Chapter 7
Although they left at 0800, it was late in the afternoon on P3C-428 when the wormhole winked out. SG-1 strolled down from the Stargate platform and toward the dusty village, continuing the conversation that had begun on the gate room ramp.
"Reporters on base?" Sam Carter could not believe it.
"Crazy, I know." Jack O'Neill shared her revulsion at the very idea.
"When will they be there?"
Jack noted she left off the ever present 'sir', she must be really worried he thought. He surreptitiously watched her gait to see if she were favoring her recently healed left leg. He continued the conversation.
"I was kinda hoping they'd be gone by the time we get back."
"The last time..."
"Yeah" Jack said "I remember."
"You and Teal'c save me...ah...us." Sam thought again, he saved me again just like on the Alpha base. Coming to the rescue...like with Adrian Conrad mad scientists.
O'Neill could see her mind tumbling into the close calls of the past and needed her to rebuild her confidence.
"Not to worry Carter. Just one reporter. The Air Force is providing the crew and the minder. That's what's holding up the works – finding a video and sound man the reporter can work with and vetting all of them, you know, running through background checks. And no off world! Hammond's not happy about any of it either. To tell the truth he's fit to be tied. He's not going to let them anywhere near the gate if he can help it."
"That's a relief, sir – even better if I can avoid them completely."
"You and me both." Jack agreed.
"Do you think he'll be able to get an accurate view of what we do?" Daniel Jackson asked.
"Who cares? It's not as if anyone will ever see it." Jack replied.
Sam was delighted to be back, even though this was a stroll in the park. It was nice to feel the sun on her face, the pack on her back, the stretch of her muscles and, much to her amusement, Daniel and her colonel squabbling. She was also pleased that the colonel did not once ask if her leg hurt or if her pack was too heavy or the seemingly endless "How are you feeling?" and other well meant questions from so many others. She knew he kept a watchful eye but didn't treat her like an incompetent three year old.
Sam turned her attention back to the conversation.
Daniel looked at Jack somewhat astonished. "No Jack – it will be of immense historical importance as well as a possible educational tool for new recruits to the SGC. I think it needs to be as accurate and complete as possible – a record for the future."
"Like the rocks you're going to look at."
"Exactly. Accurate as possible considering the level of development of the particular civilizations. And my 'rocks' are probably more durable and easier to access than video tape or digital recordings which need a device to make sense of the data."
"I'll consult with Hammond and suggest a ton of granite and a tombstone engraver instead."
With that SG-1 arrived at the outskirts of the village and Daniel's reply was cut short by the cheerful greetings by a gaggle of a dozen or so children, some smiling women and a few of the village elders. Most of the men and some of the older boys of the village were either still in the fields eking out enough crops to keep the village from starving or in the high pastures herding the few scrawny goats they held in common. The elderly headman, staff in hand, welcomed them and strolled along with the soldiers back to the village and to his hut for refreshments.
Over tea Daniel and Teal'c were introduced to the village holy man, who with his young acolyte, would accompany them to the archaeological site the following morning.
Jack and Sam would remain at the village keeping an eye on the Gate, establish a working relationship between their worlds and conducting tests for mineral deposits. They wondered if they could improve the living conditions of these people who, on the whole, seemed perfectly content, a bit undernourished but content, if not down right happy.
To welcome these honored guest there would be a communal meal in the evening when the most of the men and boy returned. The people shared all they had and prepared what they thought was a sumptuous feast to be enjoyed in the central courtyard of the encircling huts.
O'Neill looked at the paltry amount of food and the forty or so people it was supposed to feed and broke out the MRE's. The adult although polite were somewhat suspicious of the foreign food; the children were delighted.
After the meal there was a spate of singing. After the villagers were done they looked to SG-1.
"Do you not have singing as part of your traditions?" the village elder asked.
O'Neill smiled and nodded and said "Daniel".
"Jack?"
"Daniel" O'Neill's tone a bit more insistent.
"Oh boy"
Daniel thought for a minute and started a familiar song. They meandered their way through a few rounds of 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat' much to the amusement of the villagers.
After the festivities the sleeping children were carried off to their beds, and one of the huts was given to SG-1 for the night.
It was decided that Daniel and Teal'c would set off in the morning while Carter and O'Neill would work on establishing a lasting relationship with their new friends.
They unfurled their sleeping bags but it was too warm to crawl inside of them. Jack took first watch while the others pealed off as much as was decent and bedded down for the night.
